Retort for the treatment of oil shales, bitumens, hydrocarbons, and other elements



April 14, 1931. A. STEWART 1,800,366

RETORT FOR THE TREATMENT OF OIL SHALES BITUMENS,

AND OTHER ELEMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet l HYDROCARBONS Filed March 13, 1928 April llllY 931 .I A.v STEWART 1,800,366

RETORT FOR THE TREATMENT OF OIL SHALES, BITUMENS HYDROCARBON HER AND OT ELEMENTS Filed rch 13, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Apnl 14, 1931.V A. STEWART 1,800,366

RETORT FOR THE TREATMENT OF OIL SHALES, BITUMENS,

HYDROCARBONS, AND OTHER ELEMENTS Filed March 13, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Apr. 14, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALEXANDER STEWART, OF DENVER, COLORADO REPORT FOR THE TREATMENT OF OIL SHALES, BITUMENS, .'EYDROCARBONS, A ND OTHER ELEMENTS Application tiled March 1S, 1928'. Serial No. 261,324.

My invention relates to improvements in retorts for the treatment of oil shales, and solid bituminous materials.

The object of the invention is to provide a vertical retort in which a plurality of streams of finely 'ground shale are fed continuously into the upper end thereof and pass gradually to the lower end thereof, said.

shale being subjected to a continuously inw' creasing temperature whereby the oil therein is released in the form of vapor which passes of to suitable condensing means,

means being .provided for carrying 0H the treated shale or waste from the lower end of the retort.

Further, to provide a vertical retort having a plurality of vertically disposed zigzag shale conveying chutes upon the inner face of its Wall, lwhich extend from the-top to the bottom thereof, said retort being surrounded by an annular heat passage, whereby the entire surface of the retort is subjected to a uniform temperature, means being provided for deecting the heat in the retort toward the wall thereof so that the shale as it passes down the zig-zag chutes is subjected to a high temperature, throughout its descent, heating means being provided beneath the lower end of said retort.

3o These objects are accomplished by the aparatus illustrated in the accompanying rawings in which;

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through the improved retort, only one of the zigzag chutes bei shown therein, and the axial heat deflecting element being shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the feed hopper and its rotary discharging member.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the same, slightly enlarged.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the retort, the feed hopper, and feed pipes connecting the same with the top of the retort. p

` Fig. 5 is a plan View ofthe retort proper,

the cover` orcap being removed.

Fig. 6 is a bottom view of Fig. 5.

' Fig. 7 is aside view of the base member of the retort.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the base plate which supports the retort.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatical sectional view illustrating a portion of the retort as it would appear if spread out flat, in order to more clearly illustrate theI arrangement of the zig-zag chutes.

Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view of the rotary valve and its support for discharging the shale from the lower end of the retort.

Fig. 11 is a horizontal sectional view of the same, the valve being in elevation, and

Fig. 12 is a plan view of one .of the zigzag chute members showing more clearly the inclined rillles on the bottom thereof for deliecting the shale toward the inner side of the said member.

Referring to the accompanying drawings: The numeral 1 indicates a hollow cylindrical brick structure of suitable height and diameter which incloses the retort proper to be hereinafter described, and which will hereinafter be termed a stack. An opening or doorway 2 is formed in the lower end or foundation portion of the stack and an iron base plate 3 rests upon the foundation, the remaining ortion of the stack resting upon the said ase plate,

.as shown by Fig. 1. This base plate 3 has a central hole 4 which is surrounded by a depending threaded hub 5, the purpose of whichwill later appear. The retort 6 rests upon and is supported by the base plate 3, and this retort is in the form of a hollow metal cylinder of less diameter than the in. terior of the stack so that a flue space 7 is formed between the retort and the stack. The lower end of the retort has welded thereto a conical bottom 8, having a short central outlet tube 9.which rests uponl the base plate 3, and re isters with the hole 4 there1n,and integra ly connected with the tube 9 and bottom 8 are four radial legs 10 in `the form of plates which also rest upon the base` plate 3 and form an additional support for the retort. The bottom 8 is faced on its under side with plate sections 8A, which lie between the legs 10, and are formed at each end with narrow flanges 8B,

which are bolted, or riveted to the legs as clearly shown in Figures 6 and 7. The

plate sections protect the bottom of the re ends of the legs 10 also rest in corresponding slots 12 in the said base plate, which radiate from the groove 11, as shown in Fig. 8, and this arrangement centers the retort with respect to the central hole in the basel plate, and also prevents sideways movement of the retort upon the base plates. The retort reaches to the top of the stack and'its upper end is closed by a conical cap 13, which is preferably welded thereto. The top of the stack is also closed by a conical cap 14 which is spaced from the cap 13 and the cap 14 has a central outlet pipe or chimney 15.

Upon the inner face of the retort aresecured a series of vertically disposed chutes A which are ada ted to convey the ground shale gradually to the lower end thereof, and discharge it upon the bottom plate 8, and thesev chutes are constructed and arranged as follows:

rllhere are preferably twelve of these chutes and each chute is made u of a plurality of connected troughs or c annel-like sections 16 which incline downwardly in opposite directions, the discharge end of one section connectin with the receiving end of the next succeeding section, thereby forming a Zig-zag chute as clearly shown in Fig. 1, and in the diagrammatic view Fig. 9. These sections are curved to conform to the curvature of the wall of the retort and are secured to the retort by bolts or rivets 17 whichpass throng viali of the retort and through the adjoining side of the section 16. The sections each chute extend in between the sections the adjoining chutes the shown in Fig. 9, thus lperi'aitting the employment greater number of chutes would otherwise be the case, the chute sections or' troughs are piaced at such a:iclination that the shale, its passage throu e chute, will have a heat exposure of period before discharges the settore of the chute.

iin or i' er side of the chute se chute section is es corru which detl-ect t side of the sectie;V

rom the top of the retort` tort and through the cap 14 of the stack are six feed pipes 19 and each of these pipes terminates in a two part or yoke shaped pipe 20, which is coupled thereto, so that each yoke4 shaped pipe is arranged to supply. two chutes as shown. The upper ends of the feed pipes 19 are connected to a cham ber 2l which forms part of a semi-cylindrical casting 22 which is bolted to a similar casting23, which is secured upon the bottom of a feed hopper 24. The castings22 and 23, together form a cylindrical housing in which is fitted a tube 25, having an opening 26 which communicates with the hopper and an opposite opening 27 which communicates with the chamber 21. The

,tube 25 isclamped between the castings 22 and 23, and is held against movement by set screws 28 which extend through the castportion of which fits snugly in the tube 25;v

The rotary valve 30 is provided with four longitudinal pockets 31 and one of its ends is reduced to form a stub shaft32 upon which is rigidly mounted a power wheel, preferably a sprocket wheel 33, which is adapted to be connected with a power source. As the valve 30 rotates shale from the hopper enters the pockets 31 in the said valve and is deposited in the chamber 21, whence it passes through the feed pipes 19 and 20 to the several chutes A.

The ends of the valve 30 are provided with packing rings and the valve is held against endwise movement, by a screw 35, which passes through one of the bearings 29, and into an annular groove 36 in the said valve.

Upon the threaded hub 5 of the base plate 3 is screwed a coupling ring 37, in which is screwed the neck 38 of a valve block 39, in which is rotatably mounted a rotary plug 4() provided in its surface with pockets 41, three being shown in Fig. 10. The block 39 has a vertical outlet passage 42 extending through the same,'which intersects the aperture in which` the rotary plug 40 turns, and one end portion of the plug is reduced in .diameter to form a stub shaft 43, on. which lll@ ceive` it. The rotary feed valve-30and the rotary discharge valve 40 prevent the entrance of air to the rtort-hoth while mate- -rial is being fed to the retort and while the treated material is discharging therefrom.

As the discharging material has a very high temperature the valve block 39 is preferably a water jacketed block, and is therefore, provided with water channels 47 and inlet and outlet tubes 48 and 49 respectively for providing a circulation of water through the block. The plug valve 40 is also provided with an axial water channel 50 and with branch connected channels which extend radially and longitudinally through the plug, the plug being also provided with inlet and outlet pipes 51 and 52, respectively, which are connected to the plug in any suitable manner so as not to interfere with the free rotation of the same. The circulation of water through the valve block and the rotary valve prevents the parts from becoming over-heated and the consequent expansion of the rotary valve, and the valve is provided with packing rings a. The valve is held against endwise movement by a screw b which passes through one end portion of the valve block 39 and enters an annular groove af in the valve, as clearly shown in Fig. 11.

The base plate 3 is provided with holes 53, preferably four, arranged as shown in Fig. 8, and 4hrough these holes are inserted suitable oil burners 54, which are connected.

to a suitable oil supply pipe 55 under the base plate 3 and which extends out through the doorway 2 in the foundation of. the stack to a supply source. One burner is located between each two legs l() of the retort, and the heat from these burners is directed against the bottom of the retort and as the bottom is conical the heat is thercb deflected outward to the wall of the stacr and passes up through the flue space 7 between the retort and the stack, thus surrounding the retort and subjecting every part of its outer surface to the heat.

The heated air and smoke passes to the top of the stack and escapes through the chimney l5. The interior of the retort is also heated to a high degree, and in order that the chutes A may be subjected to the maximumr of heat in the retort an axial heat deflectin element ,is su ported within the retort an is constructed and arranged as follows:

A pipe 56 of suitable diameter, preferablyabout terr inches in diameter, is supported centrally in the retort and extends rom the top tothe bottom thereof. The pipe is filled with any suitable heat resisting material, such as asbestos, and is provided at its lower end with supporting legs 57 which rest upon the bottom of the retort, while its upper end is held in position by radial arms flected from the center thereof outward in all directions so that the material passin down the chutes A issubjected to the full force of the heat both within and surrounding the retort. A gas outlet pipe 60 extends from the cap of the retort out through the stack cap 14, and carries off the gases liberated from the material passing through the retort. Inlet holes 61 are formed in the stack to admit air to the oil burners.

In operation, finely ground oil bearing shale or other oil bearing material is supplied to the hopper 24, and is carried thence by the rotary feed valve 30 to the chamber 21 whence it is conveyed by the pipes 19 and 20 to the upper ends of the zig-zag chutes A, and there begins a gradual descent to the bottom of the retort. During its passage through the retort the material is subjected to a continuously increasing temperature'and the gases therein are liberated and pass oil" through the pipe 60 to condensation. Tle treated material discharges through the outlet 9 in the bottoni of the retort into the valve block 39, whence it is delivered to the conveyor 46 by the rotary pocketed plug valve 40.

While I have shown a cylindrical retort and a corresponding surrounding structure, my invention contemplates a retort which is rectangular or any other desired shape.

The opening 2 in the foundation portion of the structure permits access to the interior of the structure below the base plate 3, in order that proper attention may be given the oil burners and the valve block 39.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An apparatus for the treatment of oil bearing shales and other materials comprising a structurein the form of a stack, a base late in the lower portion of said stack, having a central opening, a vertically disposed retort in said stack having supports on its bottom which rest on said baserplate'and a tubular outlet registering with the opening in said base plate, a plurality of vertically disposed chutes in said retort for gradually conveying material from the top to the bottom thereof, means for supplying material to said chutes, a valve block secured to the u-nder side of said base plate, a rotary pocketed valve in said block for receiving and discharging treated material from the retort, heating' elements in the base plate, a flue space being left between the retort and the stack, and a gas outlet pipe in the top ofthe y retort.

2. A cylindrical retort for the treatment of oil bearing shales and other materials, having a conical bottom provided with a centra'l outlet aperture, a'plurality of vertically disposed chutes in said retort each comprising a series of connected channel-like sections arranged in zig-Zag order and secured to the wall of the retort, means extending through the top of the retort for supplying material to said chutes, means for discharging the residue from the bottom of said retort, means for deflecting the heated gases in said retort outward towards the wall thereof, and means for heating the retort, and'a gas outlet extending from the top of the retort.

3. The combination with a retort for the treatment of oil bearing shales and other materials, having a plurality of chutes for gradually conveying material from the top to the bottom thereof and means for heatin said retort, of means for supplying materia to said chutes, comprising a hopper, a member on the bottom of said hopper having a rotary pocketed feed valve therein and a chamber below said valve, feed pipes connected at one end to said chamber, their opposite ends extending through the top of said retort in feeding relative to said chutes, rotary pocketed means for discharging the residue from the bottom of the retort, and a gas outlet pipe in the top of the retort.

4. The combination with a stack having a base plate; of a retort in said stack having a conical bottom provided with a tubular outlet, having radial supports integrally connected to said tubular outlet and said bottom and yextending to the lower edge of said, outlet, said radial supports resting upon said base plate; of plates disposed between said radial supports and bearing, against said bottom and having bolt anges on their ends which are secured to said supports.

5. In an apparatus for the treatment of oil bearing shales and other materials, the

combination with a vertically disposed cylindrical retort having a series of vertically disposed zig-zag chutes therein secured toits wall, and means for heating said retort, a

heat detlecting element in said retort, comprising a central pipe extending the length of the retort and having a heat resisting tilling, means for supporting said pipe, horizontal heat de'lecting elements thereon, means for supplying material to said chutes and means for receiving and discharging the residue from the bottom of the retort, and a gas outlet pipe in the top of the retort.

6. In apparatus of the character described, a stacklike structure, a base plate in the lower portion of said structure having a central opening surrounded by a. depending threaded hub, a coupler on said hub, a valve block abutting said threaded hub and secured in said coupler and having a passage therethrough registering with the opening in the base plate, a rotary pocketed plug valve in said block which intersects said passage, a retort supported on said base plate having an outlet registering with said opening,a liue space being left between said retort and said structure, vertically disposed chutes in said retort for gradually conveying mat-erial Jfrom the top to the bottom of said retort, means for supplying said chutes with material, means for heating said retort, and

a gas outlet pipe leading from the top of said retort.

In testimony whereof, I aiiix my signature.

ALEXANDER STEWART. 

